http://amystoddard.com/ en aimelise@gmail.com Copyright 2010 2010-03-06T13:22:29+00:00 http://amystoddard.com/blog/article/launching-non-profit-mountain-child-volunteers-wanted/ http://amystoddard.com/blog/article/launching-non-profit-mountain-child-volunteers-wanted/#When:13:22:29Z I recently had my first chance to work with a non-profit, US 501(c)(3) Corporation. They're a Christian-based organization called Mountain Child. My role was to provide branding, including logo, business cards and t-shirts, as well as the initial website. It's obvious why non-profits need an army of volunteers. I live in Korea and came to work with Mountain Child by way of the Church my husband and I attend. Korea serves as a basecamp where Mountain Child trains volunteers before they're ready to serve anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 years among the poverty and despair of the Himalayan people. When I listened to Mountain Child's story, I knew I could believe in this project and felt motivated each day to do my best work. Friends of mine are regularly taking breaks from their teaching positions to volunteer at the R.A.N.C.H. (Remote Areas of Nepal Children's Home) in Nepal. When they return, their stories are moving and their photography breathtaking. Many of these children will not live past 8 years old because their tribes lack fundamental medical care. Mountain Child's mission is to set up schools, Christian churches and medical facilities so these children have a chance to enjoy childhood and live to become thriving adults. Korea 2010-03-06T13:22:29+00:00 http://amystoddard.com/work/project/gyeoggi-suwon-international-school-south-korea/ http://amystoddard.com/work/project/gyeoggi-suwon-international-school-south-korea/#When:17:17:19Z I was approached by Gyeonggi-Suwon International School to build a website. This is my largest Expression Engine site I've tackled by myself to date. It has a few key features. It integrates Google Calendar by parsing the RSS feed with Magpie. There is a smart employment application which exports applicants on a weekly basis as a CSV file. There is also integrated photos and videos powered by Flickr and YouTube. Key plugins/extensions/modules include, Structure, Wygwam and FieldFrame. Available Online, Content Management, Flash / Actionscript, HTML / CSS / JQuery, Photoshop, Websites 2010-01-26T17:17:19+00:00 http://amystoddard.com/blog/article/favorite-productivity-mac-apps-of-2009/ http://amystoddard.com/blog/article/favorite-productivity-mac-apps-of-2009/#When:18:43:17Z 2009 is my first full year as a freelance web designer and developer. Being in charge of my own time and resources makes me realize how I took for granted the ease of collecting a paycheck and the beatings project managers can sometimes take from demanding clients. This past year was a great journey and I'm confident freelancing is a great fit for me right now. Here's a list of some of the apps I'm using to manage my workflow, including Quicksilver, DropBox, Tweetie, PingFM, Google (RSS) Reader and TextExpander. These tools are just apps I use to keep on top of news and technology. I plan to post another article of tools I use to manage client correspondence, invoices and maybe even a few tips for tax-season. Web Tools / Applications 2009-12-30T18:43:17+00:00 http://amystoddard.com/blog/article/having-fun-in-mokpo-korea/ http://amystoddard.com/blog/article/having-fun-in-mokpo-korea/#When:14:23:31Z Eric and I took a trip to Mokpo, South Korea on the KTX, Korea's bullet train. Eric had to go down there to do an car design demo, so I tagged along. We had a Korean seafood feast. All of it was raw, some of it alive. Just one of the crazy experiences we've had while living here in the land where most everything we know is flipped upside down and turned 'round and 'round. Music: Young Folks by Peter Bjorn and John. Korea, Videos 2009-10-18T14:23:31+00:00 http://amystoddard.com/blog/article/could-google-wave-become-a-basecamp-replacement/ http://amystoddard.com/blog/article/could-google-wave-become-a-basecamp-replacement/#When:06:42:53Z Google Wave is still currently an invite-only application. I was fortunate to receive an invitation from Brandon Carson over at Agami Creative. All conversations are organized into "Waves." If you can't sit through the 120-minute explanation of Google Wave's capabilities, try the short, 10-minute version. Its what got my wheels turning to envision this as a replacement for BaseCamp. Don't get me wrong, BaseCamp is an incredible tool for collaborating on projects, but it still costs money and its not perfect. Technology, Web Tools / Applications 2009-10-09T06:42:53+00:00 http://amystoddard.com/work/project/social-diva/ http://amystoddard.com/work/project/social-diva/#When:03:37:32Z Social Diva provides a resource for women looking to be in the know about events. Available Online, Photoshop, Websites 2009-09-21T03:37:32+00:00 http://amystoddard.com/blog/article/celebrating-birthdays-in-insadong-south-korea/ http://amystoddard.com/blog/article/celebrating-birthdays-in-insadong-south-korea/#When:14:32:21Z My friend Lisa and I have birthdays just two days apart: Her birthday is Sept.15 and mine Sept. 17. We wandered Insadong, an artsy, tourist area in Seoul. We visited this vintage toy store. I wish more places in Seoul were like this. The world doesn't need another overpriced department store. We ended with a yummy dinner of western-food and music at "Top Cloud." What a view! Thanks Quentin and Lisa. Music: What'd I Say by Ray Charles Korea, Videos 2009-09-17T14:32:21+00:00 http://amystoddard.com/work/project/save-detroit-michigan-central-station/ http://amystoddard.com/work/project/save-detroit-michigan-central-station/#When:16:58:20Z I drove by this iconic monstrosity of Detroit architecture after having lunch with a friend. The slew of "Summer in the City" volunteers made such an impression on me that I decided to get involved. Rather than good ol' fashioned elbow grease, I got in touch with the coordinator, John Mohyi, and built a website using Expression Engine. Unfortunately, at the last minute, it never made it live because several "powers that be" insisted the current site is better. HTML / CSS / JQuery, Logos, Non-Profit, Photoshop, Websites 2009-08-27T16:58:20+00:00 http://amystoddard.com/blog/article/flying-over-niagara-falls-in-the-stoddard-family-truckster/ http://amystoddard.com/blog/article/flying-over-niagara-falls-in-the-stoddard-family-truckster/#When:14:51:39Z In August 2009 the my Father-In-Law took us in the Stoddard Family Truckster, a 1973 Cessna Skyline, for flight over the Niagara Falls. So fun! Music: Spirit in the Sky by Norman Greenbaum. Just for Fun, Videos 2009-08-09T14:51:39+00:00 http://amystoddard.com/blog/article/dragracing-in-martin-michigan/ http://amystoddard.com/blog/article/dragracing-in-martin-michigan/#When:14:42:04Z Went with the family to Martin, Michigan to the US 131 Speedway for the IHRA Night of Fire. Wow! First time at the drag races. Music: Runnin' Wild by Airbourne. Videos 2009-07-18T14:42:04+00:00